My intention with these memes is to focus on some
of the transformative effects that excessive consumerism has on the teenagers
in the novel, Feed,
especially the manipulation of their perceptions. The children are objectified
by the corporations in the novel, reduced to basic taste profiles so they can they
be exploited as a consumer. The feed in their head is not only constantly recognizing
what they like, but also telling them what to like to fit in (for now). This is
especially evident when Titus is picking out a car, and bases his decision
solely on the perceived effect it would have on his image. The legions (a
result of consumerism unchecked) suddenly become popular when TV actors start
getting them. Corporations turn the very thing which should alert the consumers
to something awry (flesh literally rotting) into something desirable. The lack
of concern for the damage they have caused is evident when they reject Violet
because she wasn’t a good enough consumer.
These memes are all pretty poignant and amusing. It is, of course, an ironic tragedy that even though Titus purchases his Gryphon so that he and his friends can have a great time in it together he remarks at the end of the novel that the Gryphon never became that for him. As consumerism objectifies them, as you aptly state, they lose their capacity to be active subjects that can affect change in their country.
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